Atlantic City's hospitality landscape just got a major upgrade. On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, The Seahaus Hotel and its signature restaurant Cucina Del Mar officially opened their doors with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant milestone as the first Marriott Tribute Portfolio lifestyle hotel to debut in the iconic resort destination.
The grand opening event brought together local dignitaries, hospitality leaders, and community stakeholders to celebrate this new chapter in Atlantic City's evolving food and beverage scene. Mayor Marty Small Sr. and Fifth Ward Councilwoman Maria Lacca joined Chris Charbonnet, Regional Vice President of Coury Hospitality, and Paul Joseph, General Manager of The Seahaus Hotel, for the ceremonial ribbon cutting that officially welcomed this boutique property to the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
A New Vision for Atlantic City Hospitality
Located directly on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, The Seahaus Hotel represents a fresh approach to hospitality in a destination traditionally dominated by gaming-focused resorts. This non-gaming property offers visitors a peaceful seaside retreat that emphasizes culinary excellence, coastal serenity, and authentic New Jersey shore experiences.
"We're excited to introduce The Seahaus Hotel and Cucina Del Mar to the Atlantic City Boardwalk," said Paul Joseph, the hotel's general manager, during the opening ceremony. "The hotel and restaurant provide a wonderful atmosphere of seaside serenity and culinary excellence, inviting guests to really embrace Atlantic City's charming coastal New Jersey setting."
The development reflects a broader trend in the hospitality industry toward experiential travel and authentic local connections. Rather than competing directly with the area's established gaming properties, The Seahaus Hotel positions itself as a complementary offering that appeals to travelers seeking a more intimate, food-focused experience.
Sophisticated Accommodations Meet Coastal Charm
The Seahaus Hotel features 105 well-appointed guest rooms designed with a modern, nautical-inspired aesthetic that captures the essence of seaside living. The property's design philosophy balances contemporary luxury with authentic coastal elements, creating spaces that feel both sophisticated and welcoming.
Each accommodation incorporates design elements that reflect the Atlantic Ocean's natural beauty while providing modern amenities expected by today's discerning travelers. The hotel's proximity to the beach offers guests seamless access to Atlantic City's famous shoreline, while the on-site fitness center ensures wellness-focused travelers can maintain their routines.
The property also plans to introduce wellness and recreational offerings through strategic partnerships with local vendors, demonstrating the food and beverage industry's growing emphasis on holistic guest experiences that extend beyond traditional dining and lodging services.
Cucina Del Mar: Italian Coastal Cuisine with Local Flair
The hotel's culinary centerpiece, Cucina Del Mar, serves as both the property's signature restaurant and a standalone destination for Atlantic City's dining scene. The restaurant's concept focuses on authentic Italian coastal dishes that emphasize fresh local seafood and seasonal ingredients sourced from the region.
This approach aligns with current food and beverage trends toward hyper-local sourcing and authentic regional cuisine. The menu showcases the intersection of traditional Italian coastal cooking techniques with the abundant seafood offerings of the New Jersey shore, creating a unique dining experience that reflects both culinary heritage and local terroir.
Cucina Del Mar operates for both breakfast and dinner service, providing hotel guests with convenient dining options while also attracting local diners and visitors from other Atlantic City properties. The restaurant's craft cocktail program draws inspiration from the vibrant Atlantic City atmosphere and the hotel's beachfront setting, offering guests beverages that complement both the coastal location and Italian-influenced menu.
Leadership and Industry Expertise
The Seahaus Hotel's success reflects the expertise of Coury Hospitality, a leading lifestyle hospitality management company known for transforming hotels into vibrant community hubs. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Coury Hospitality brings decades of experience in developing and managing premier properties within Marriott's Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio brands, as well as Hilton's Curio Collection.
The company's hands-on, personalized approach to property development and management emphasizes creating authentic connections between properties and their surrounding communities. This philosophy proves particularly relevant in Atlantic City, where successful hospitality ventures must balance tourist appeal with local authenticity.
Chris Charbonnet's presence at the ribbon-cutting ceremony underscores Coury Hospitality's commitment to the Atlantic City market and their confidence in The Seahaus Hotel's potential to become a cornerstone of the area's hospitality offerings.
Innovative Financing and Economic Development
The Seahaus Hotel's development story also highlights innovative approaches to hospitality project financing. A portion of the project's funding came through Green Card Fund's EB-5 Investor program, demonstrating how international investment can support domestic hospitality development.
Green Card Fund, established in 2009 as a subsidiary of NewGen Worldwide, has operated as an approved EB-5 Regional Center for over 15 years, specializing in raising EB-5 capital specifically for hospitality projects. This financing model has supported hundreds of families in securing U.S. permanent residency while simultaneously driving economic growth and transformation in American communities.
The EB-5 program's role in hospitality development reflects the global nature of today's food and beverage industry, where international investment and cultural exchange contribute to local economic growth and culinary diversity.
Strategic Market Positioning
The Seahaus Hotel's location near popular Atlantic City attractions positions it advantageously within the destination's tourism ecosystem. Guests enjoy easy access to local casinos, spas, entertainment venues, and the Atlantic City Convention Center, while the hotel's non-gaming focus allows it to appeal to business travelers, couples seeking romantic getaways, and families looking for sophisticated shore experiences.
This strategic positioning reflects broader trends in hospitality industry segmentation, where properties increasingly seek to differentiate themselves through specialized experiences rather than attempting to be everything to everyone. The Seahaus Hotel's focus on culinary excellence and coastal tranquility creates a clear value proposition that complements rather than competes with existing Atlantic City offerings.
Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Industry Impact
The successful opening of The Seahaus Hotel and Cucina Del Mar signals potential for continued growth and innovation in Atlantic City's hospitality sector. The property plans to introduce additional programs and offerings throughout 2026 to further enhance the visitor experience and support local tourism development.
For food and beverage professionals, this opening represents several important industry trends: the growing importance of authentic local cuisine, the success of non-gaming hospitality properties in gaming destinations, the role of international investment in domestic hospitality development, and the continued evolution of lifestyle hotel brands.
The property's emphasis on creating immersive fan experiences with a focus on alcohol responsibility also reflects the industry's growing attention to responsible service and community engagement. These elements position The Seahaus Hotel as more than just another hotel opening – it represents a thoughtful approach to hospitality development that considers both guest experience and community impact.
The Seahaus Hotel and Cucina Del Mar's successful grand opening adds another chapter to Atlantic City's ongoing hospitality evolution, demonstrating that innovation, authenticity, and strategic positioning can create compelling new opportunities in established markets. For industry professionals watching trends in coastal tourism and lifestyle hospitality, this opening offers valuable insights into effective property positioning and community integration.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
